Grapevine ‘IFG 104-253’

ABSTRACT

This invention is a new and distinctive grapevine ‘IFG 104-253’. ‘IFG 104-253’ produces naturally large, elongated white seedless berries that require little or no exogenous application of gibberellic acid to obtain commercially acceptable berry size which ripen in mid-season.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Vitisvinifera.

Variety denomination: ‘IFG 104-253’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new and distinct grapevine described and claimed herein originatedfrom a hand pollinated cross of the Princess variety (non-patented) andthe Regal variety (South African PBR ZA971795) hybridized in May 2001.The abortive seed traces were subsequently embryo cultured and theresulting plant was planted in the field in April 2002. The presentvariety of grapevine was selected as a single plant in July 2003 and wasfirst asexually propagated by hardwood cuttings in December 2003. Theresulting propagules were planted during April 2004 near Delano, KernCounty, Calif. and were found to reproduce true-to-type through at leastthree generations of asexual reproduction.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new grapevine ‘IFG 104-253’ is characterized by producing naturallylarge, elongated white seedless berries that require little or noexogenous application of gibberellic acid to obtain commerciallyacceptable berry size which ripen in mid-season.

To the inventor's knowledge, the known varieties to which the newgrapevine variety is most similar are the parent varieties and theSugraone variety (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 3,106) and the Sugratwelve (U.S.Plant Pat. No. 8,298) variety. ‘IFG 104-253’ can be distinguished fromthese varieties based on unique combination of characteristics, whichinclude naturally large crisp, very uniform berries with both highvisual attractiveness and high eating quality combined with viticulturalcharacteristics that reduce growing costs compared to existingvarieties. ‘IFG 104-253’ can further be distinguished based on thecharacteristics described below.

The new grapevine variety can be distinguished from its parent thePrincess variety by having narrower, more elongated berries which aremore uniform and less variable in size and shape. The new varietyexhibits a much lower tendency to excessively yellow than the Princessvariety when exposed to direct sunlight. The new variety exhibits nointernal browning during storage which plagues the Princess variety. Thenew variety is less vigorous and more productive than the princessvariety and does not exhibit reduced fruitfulness under low lightconditions created by a heavy canopy of foliage. The new variety doesnot produce and muscat flavor when fully ripe as compared to thePrincess variety which exhibits a mild muscat flavor when fully ripe.

‘IFG 104-253’ most closely resembles its parent variety the RegalSeedless in having a similar color and general shape. The new varietydiffers from the Regal Seedless by having a slightly more elongatedberry shape, by having a slightly more waxy bloom giving it a moredesirable and slightly less shiny appearance. It further differs fromthe Regal variety by having a more desirable broad shouldered conicalcluster shape as opposed to the narrower more elongated cluster shape ofthe Regal variety. The new variety does not exhibit an astringent tastewhich sometimes plagues the Regal variety. The new variety has a moredesirable crisp texture and superior eating quality as compared to theRegal variety. The new variety does not exhibit any internal browningduring storage which plagues its parent the Regal variety. The newvariety differs from the Regal variety by ripening five or more daysbefore the Regal variety. The new variety has naturally loose clustersrequiring less laborious hand or chemical thinning. The new varietyrequires little or no gibberellic application to attain commerciallyacceptable berry size compared to the Regal variety and the new varietyexhibits less subsequent crop reduction if gibberellic acid is appliedas compared with the Regal variety.

‘IFG 104-253’ differs from the Sugraone variety (U.S. Plant Pat. No.3,106 expired) by ripening later and having more uniform and moreelongated berries. The new variety produced heavily when pruned to twobud spurs as opposed to the Sugraone variety which required more costlypruning to long canes.

‘IFG 104-253’ differs from the Sugratwelve (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,298)by ripening after the Sugratwelve variety and by producing heavily whenpruned to two bud spurs as opposed to the Sugratwelve variety whichrequired more costly pruning to long can.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographic illustration in FIG. 1 illustrates ‘IFG104-253’. The photograph was taken using conventional techniques. Thecolors are as nearly true as is reasonably possible in a colorrepresentation of this type.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Throughout this specification, color names beginning with a small lettersignify that the name of that color, as used in common speech, is aptlydescriptive. Color names beginning with a capital letter designatevalues based upon R.H.S. Colour Chart, published by The RoyalHoritcultural Society, London, England.

Throughout this specification subjective description values conform tothose set forth by the International Plant Genetic Resources Institutepublication ‘Descriptors for Grape’ (Vitis spp.) (1983) which wasdeveloped in collaboration with the Office International de la Vigne etdu Vin (OIV) and the International Union for the Protection of NewVarieties of Plants (UPOV).

The following descriptive matter pertains to ‘IFG 104-253’ plants grownin the vicinity of Delano, Kern County, Calif. during 2007 –2008, and isbelieved to apply to plants of the variety grown under similarconditions of soil and climate elsewhere.

VINE

-   General:    -   -   Size.—Medium.        -   Vigor.—Medium.        -   Density of foliage.—Medium.        -   Productivity.—Very productive.        -   Root stock.—Own root.        -   Training method.—Typically spur pruned leaving 2 bud spurs.-   Trunk:    -   -   Trunk diameter of 4-year-old vines at 30 cm above the soil            line.—7.3 cm.        -   Shape.—Medium.        -   Straps.—Very long, split.        -   Surface texture.—Shaggy.        -   Inner bark color.—Greyed-Orange 174 A.

SHOOTS

-   Young shoot:    -   -   Form of tip.—Wide open.        -   Distribution of anthocyanin coloration of tip.—Absent.        -   Intensity of anthocyanin coloration of tip.—Absent.        -   Density of prostrate hairs on tip.—Very sparse.        -   Density of erect hairs on tip.—Absent.        -   Color.—Yellow Green 144 A.-   Woody shoot (mature canes):    -   -   Shape.—Medium.        -   Internode length.—Medium to long ; about 132.5 mm.        -   Width at node.—About 12 mm.        -   Cross section.—Circular.        -   Surface.—Striate.        -   Main color.—Greyed-orange group; 166C.        -   Density of erect hairs of nodes.—None or very sparse.        -   Density of erect hairs on internodes.—None or very sparse.        -   Growth of axillary shoots.—Medium; approximately 16.5 cm.-   Flowering shoot:    -   -   Vigor during flowering.—Medium.        -   Attitude during flowering on shoots not tied.—Semi-drooping.        -   Color.—Dorsal side of internodes — green with red stripes            red.        -   Color.—Ventral side of internodes — yellow green 144A.        -   Color.—Dorsal side of nodes — yellow green 144A.        -   Color.—Ventral side of nodes — yellow green 144A.        -   Density of prostrate hairs of nodes.—None.        -   Density of erect hairs of nodes.—None.        -   Density of prostrate hairs on internode.—Absent.        -   Density of erect hairs on internode.—Absent.        -   Anthocyanin coloration of buds.—Absent.-   Tendrils:    -   -   Distribution on the shoot (at full            flowering).—Discontinuous.        -   Length of tendril.—Long; about 26.5 cm.        -   Thickness.—Medium.        -   Color.—Yellow green 144A.        -   Form.—Trifurcated.        -   Number of consecutive tendrils.—Three or more.

LEAVES

-   Young leaves:    -   -   Color of upper surface of first four distal unfolded            leaves.—Green 146 B.        -   Average intensity of anthocyanin coloration of six distal            leaves prior to flowering.—Absent.        -   Density of prostrate hairs between veins (lower            surface).—Absent.        -   Density of prostrate hairs on veins.—Very sparse.        -   Density of erect hairs between veins (lower            surface).—Absent.        -   Density of erect hairs on veins.—Very sparse.-   Mature leaves:    -   -   Average length.—About 14.7 cm.        -   Average width.—About 15.8 cm.        -   Mature leaf size.—Medium to large.        -   Shape of blade.—Pentagonal.        -   Number of lobes.—3.        -   Anthocyanin coloration of main veins on upper side of            blade.—Very weak.        -   Mature leaf profile.—Involute.        -   Blistering surface of blade upper surface.—Weak.        -   Leaf blade tip.—In the plane of the leaf.        -   Undulation of margin.—Pronounced.        -   Thickness.—Medium.        -   Undulation of blade between main and lateral veins.—Absent.        -   Shape of teeth.—Both sides convex.        -   Length of teeth.—Medium.        -   Ratio length/width of teeth.—Small.        -   Shape of upper lateral sinuses.—Open.        -   Depth of upper lateral sinuses.—Shallow.        -   General shape petiole sinus.—Slightly open.        -   Shape of base of upper leaf sinuses.—V-shaped.        -   Density of prostrate hairs between veins on lower surface of            blade.—Absent.        -   Density if erect hairs between veins on lower surface of            blade.—Absent.        -   Density of prostrate hairs on main veins on lower surface of            blade.—None or very sparse.        -   Density of erect hairs on main veins on lower surface of            blade.—Sparse.        -   Density of prostrate hairs on main veins on upper surface of            blade.—None or very sparse.        -   Density of erect hairs on main veins on upper surface of            blade.—None.        -   General shape petiole sinus.—Half open.        -   Shape of base of petiole sinus.—U-shaped.        -   Mature leaf tooth at petiole sinus.—Absent.-   Upper surface:    -   -   Color.—Green 137 B.        -   Anthocyanin coloration of main veins.—Absent.        -   Surface appearance.—Semi-glossy.        -   Blistering surface of blade.—Very weak.-   Lower surface:    -   -   Color.—Yellow green 146 B.        -   Anthocyanin coloration of main veins (lower            surface).—Absent.        -   Glossiness.—Medium.        -   Surface texture.—Smooth.        -   Surface appearance.—Semi-glossy.-   Petiole:    -   -   Length.—About 11.4 cm.        -   Length of petiole compared to middle vein.—Slightly shorter.        -   Density of prostrate hairs on petiole.—None.        -   Density of erect hairs on petiole.—None.-   Buds:    -   -   Bud fruitfulness.—Basal: mostly fruitful.        -   Position of first fruitful shoot on previous season            cane.—1st to 2nd node.        -   Time of bud burst.—Mid season; Mar. 3, 2008 (measurement            from a single location).

FLOWERS

-   General:    -   -   Flower sex.—Hermaphrodite.        -   Length of first inflorescence.—Long; approximately 15.2 cm.        -   Position of first flowering and fruiting node.—2nd to 3rd            node (current season growth).        -   Number of inflorescence per flowering shoot.—1.1 to 2.        -   Date of full bloom.—May 10, 2007.        -   Time of bloom.—Medium as compared with similar varieties in            the growing area of Kern County, Calif.

FRUIT

-   General:    -   -   Ripening period.—Medium; approximately Aug. 16, 2007            (measurement from a single location).        -   Use.—Fresh market.        -   Keeping quality.—Good.        -   Resistance to.—Insects: average typical of Vitis vinifera            species. diseases: average typical of Vitis vinifera            species.        -   Refractometer test.—Solid-sugar: about 18.2 brix.        -   Brix/acid.—About 20.7.        -   Titratable acidity.—About 0.88.        -   Juice pH.—About 3.1.-   Cluster:    -   -   Mature cluster length (peduncle excluded).—About 22.3 cm.        -   Mature cluster weight.—About 1075g.        -   Bunch density.—Medium.        -   Number of berries.—About 170.        -   Form.—Conical.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Length of peduncle.—Approximately 5.7 cm.        -   Lignification of peduncle.—Weak.-   Berry:    -   -   Uniformity of size.—Uniform.        -   Single berry weight.—About 8.2 g when treated with            gibberellic acid.        -   Shape.—Elongated elliptic.        -   Seed—Rudimentary seed traces present, but very small.        -   Dimensions.—Longitudinal axis: About 3.4 cm. horizontal            axis: about 1.6 cm.        -   Skin color (without bloom).—Yellow green 151A.        -   Anthocyanin coloration of flesh.—Absent.        -   Berry firmness.—Firm.        -   Particular flavor.—Neutral.        -   Bloom (cuticular wax).—Weak-medium.        -   Berry separation from pedicel.—Medium.-   Skin:    -   -   Thickness.—Medium.        -   Texture.—Medium.        -   Reticulation.—Absent.        -   Tenacity.—Tenacious to flesh.

1. A new and distinct variety of grapevine plant having thecharacteristics substantially as described and illustrated herein.